Latest news with #Jamal
Morocco World
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Morocco World
Ben Saddik vs Rigters: When and How to Watch Glory 103
Moroccan kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik is set to make his return in the Last Heavyweight Standing tournament, facing Dutch fighter Levi Rigters in the Round of 16 at the main event of GLORY 103. The bout will take place on August 23 at Rotterdam Ahoy in the Netherlands. The two fighters were originally scheduled to meet in 2022, but the fight was cancelled after a clash between supporters. The fight will be available to watch on StarTimes Sports – which airs GLORY events across Africa – on DAZN, and on GLORY's official streaming channels. The winner will advance to the year-end grand finale of GLORY's Last Heavyweight Standing tournament. Ben Saddik, nicknamed 'The Goliath,' holds a professional record of 38 wins, 10 losses, and 29 KOs. He famously defeated heavyweight king Rico Verhoeven with a second-round TKO in his debut back in 2011. Jamal has overcome his own battles outside the ring. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and underwent a serious five-hour operation in Belgium in March 2024. Now 34, Jamal stands 2.05m tall, weighs 117.5kg, and is the biggest active fighter on the GLORY roster—rivalled only by former heavyweight champion Semmy Schilt in size. Ben Saddik is known for his aggressive, pressure-heavy style, overwhelming opponents with power punches and leaving little room for a counterattack. In the opposite corner, Levi 'The Judge' Rigters is a sharp and efficient Dutch kickboxer with a record of 19 wins, 3 losses, and 9 KOs. He is currently ranked #1 in the GLORY heavyweight division. Standing 2m tall, weighing 112.9kg, and aged 30, Rigters is the former Enfusion super heavyweight champion, a title he clinched after beating Martin Pacas in October 2018, before moving to GLORY in 2020. Jamal's raw power and relentless striking against Levi's precision and composure promise a true clash of styles. Tactically, the edge may lean toward Rigters—but Jamal's brute-force style is tailor-made for the heavyweight chaos. MWN predicts a third-round knockout for Jamal Ben Saddik. Tags: Glory 103Jamal Ben Saddik
The Star
14 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Afghanistan's Taliban government hopes to grow tourism industry
By plane, motorbike, campervan and even on bicycles, tourists are beginning to discover Afghanistan, with solo travellers and tour groups gradually venturing into a country that until recently was wracked by war. And the country's Taliban government, which seized power more than three years ago but has yet to be formally recognised by any other nation, is more than happy to welcome them. 'The Afghan people are warm and welcoming and wish to host tourists from other countries and engage with them,' deputy minister of tourism Qudratullah Jamal said in an early June interview. 'Tourism brings many benefits to a country. We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them.' Tourism is a vital, multi-billion-dollar industry for many countries. Afghanistan's isolation on the international stage, largely because of the Taliban's restrictions on women and girls, has left much of its 41 million people mired in poverty. As it struggles to attract foreign investment, the lucrative potential of tourism is far from lost on the government. 'We are currently earning a considerable amount of revenue from this industry, and we are hopeful it will grow even more in the future,' Jamal said, noting money spent by visitors can reach more layers of society than revenue from other industries. 'We are optimistic this sector will evolve into a large economy, bringing significant benefits. It plays an important role in strengthening our national economy.' Tourist visas are quick and easy to obtain and flights from major transit hubs such as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Istanbul in Turkiye operate several times a week. The government has even set up a training institute for men – and it is only for men – seeking jobs in the hospitality and tourism sector. While visitor numbers are still very much a trickle rather than a flood, they are increasing. Nearly 9,000 foreign tourists visited Afghanistan last year, while nearly 3,000 people visited in the first three months of this year, Jamal said. A view of the 'Buddhas of Bamiyan' statues in Bamiyan, which were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. This is one of Afghanistan's top tourist spots. True traditions Four decades of near-continuous conflict kept nearly all vacationers away from this landlocked country of towering mountains, deep gorges and millennia of history. The Taliban's takeover from a United States-backed government in August 2021 stunned the world and sent thousands of Afghans fleeing. But with the insurgency over, the bloodshed from frequent bombings and suicide attacks all but ended too. Attacks still occur, however. In May 2024, six people were killed by gunmen in Bamiyan, one of the country's main tourist attractions where centuries-old giant Buddhas carved into the cliffs were blown up by the Taliban in 2001. While Western countries still advise against travel to Afghanistan, a drop in violence from the two decades of US-led military presence is indisputable, as the government is keen to point out. 'Afghanistan has gone through many years of war and hardship. Now, we want tourists to come and see the true traditions and customs of Afghans, to understand Afghan life, creativity and resilience,' Jamal said, noting there was 'comprehensive security across Afghanistan'. Critics question the ethics of foreigners visiting Afghanistan for pleasure when its government discriminates so heavily against half the country's population. Education beyond primary school level is banned for girls and women and few professions are open to them. Women cannot enter parks, gardens or gyms. Beauty salons are forbidden. Authorities dictate how women dress and have demanded they cover their faces in public, a decree still flouted by many, particularly in Kabul. Some visitors say they contemplated the ethics, but ultimately wanted to see the situation for themselves. French-Peruvian Illary Gomez said she and her British partner, James Liddiard, debated for about a year whether to drive through Afghanistan as part of their Britain-to-Japan campervan journey. 'Some things didn't feel morally right,' she said. But once here, they said they found a warm, hospitable and welcoming people and beautiful landscapes. They didn't feel their presence was any form of support for the Taliban. By travelling, '... you put money in the hands of the people, not the government,' Liddiard said. Restrictions vary The treatment of women is particularly sensitive for government officials. Jamal declined to comment on the subject beyond saying male and female visitors were welcome. 'Those who respect our laws and traditions have already come and can continue to come,' he said. While most restrictions are strictly enforced on Afghan women, they are far more relaxed for foreigners. Although they must still wear a headscarf in public, foreign women are more likely to gain entry into some restricted areas such as parks and are rarely asked to cover their faces in public. Opening the country to foreign visitors was also a way of building bridges, Jamal said. 'It is a great way to promote interaction between the people of different countries. It helps build international relations and is also beneficial for trade,' he said. 'When foreigners come here, Afghans also learn a lot from them. In addition to expanding commerce, tourism also helps foster mutual understanding, cultural exchange and strengthens talents as people learn from one another.' A foreign traveller seeing the country with his own eyes '... creates closeness, builds connections and fosters trust among people,' Jamal said. 'They will respect each other's culture and the distance between peoples will diminish. 'So this is not just economic development; it also brings spiritual and political benefits,' he said. – AP
Business Recorder
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
‘I had to skip work again': Karachiites struggle with Ajrak number plates process
KARACHI: Muhammad Jamal bought his Alto in 2022 through a bank loan, expecting the excitement of car ownership to be matched with smooth formalities. But three years later, he still doesn't have an Excise-issued number plate. 'I don't even know if the plate will be delivered to me or to the bank,' said Jamal, frustrated. With his original documents locked with the bank until the loan matures, and the Excise office requiring those same papers to issue the plate, Jamal finds himself at a bureaucratic dead end. He's not alone. Across Karachi, from business owners to delivery riders, ordinary citizens are caught in the confusion and delay caused by the Sindh government's drive to replace old number plates with new, Ajrak-themed ones. While officials argue the move is part of a broader Safe City initiative, people say the process has been anything but safe or smooth. Here's how to apply for new Ajrak design number plates online Umair Alam, an entrepreneur, also took his car out of the showroom in 2022 and registered it soon after. Since then, he's heard little more than what he called 'broken promises'. 'They told me the number plate would come by April 2025. Then in May, I followed up, and now they're saying July,' he told Business Recorder. Alam paid for registration once, but when the government introduced the Ajrak plates mid-process, he was told to pay again. Abid Hussain, a delivery boy who had come to the Excise office to apply for a number plate, said that was his second visit to the office. 'I had to skip work again, but I couldn't apply today either due heavy rush,' he lamented. On the other hand, Muhammad Qaiser, a private employee, told Business Recorder that he had preferred to apply online. 'However, after applying online, I neither received a payment confirmation SMS nor any information about when the number plate will be delivered,' he said. Qaiser said the tracking ID was only showing whether the plate had been printed or delivered. 'It does not specify when it will actually be received.' He added that there was no home delivery option available for online payments. 'At one point, I saw a courier option, but when I clicked it, it turned out to be invalid.' Two office for a population of over 20 million Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, has a population of around 20.3 million as per Census 2023. Yet, currently there are only two Excise offices - one at Hassan Square and the other in Clifton - to offer services related to vehicles registration and new number plates. Number plates with Ajrak design: only Excise-issued plates are valid, says minister When the scribe visited one of the two offices, several people were seen complaining about the shortage of counters and staff. They said establishing only two registration offices for such a large city was 'incomprehensible' and imposing a strict deadline on top of it was 'irrational'. The citizens called for an increase in the number of registration offices and an extension of the August 14 deadline. Agents were also seen taking advantage of people's plight outside the Excise Office. The scribe, not disclosing the identity, asked an agent standing outside the office how much he would charge to get the number plate work done. The agent responded that it would cost Rs10,000 for a car and Rs7,000 for a bike, with a delivery time of one to one and a half months. Meanwhile, not far from Excise offices, local shops continued to make duplicate number plates despite Sindh Excise and Taxation minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla's warning that only Excise offices could issue the new Ajrak design number plates and those issued by outside agents or shops would not be considered valid. A local craftsman who makes duplicate number plates told Business Recorder that most of his customers were students or delivery riders. According to the craftsman, people believe that police enforcement is limited to major roads, while students mostly ride their bikes in neighborhoods, so they prefer duplicate plates. He also mentioned that a duplicate plate for a bike costs around Rs500 to Rs600, whereas the official excise plate costs nearly Rs2,000. 'Due to limited financial resources and time, riders opt for duplicate plates.' Why new Ajrak design number plates? Earlier this month, Excise minister Chawla, explaining why Ajrak number plates were important, said the Safe City Project could not succeed until the security-enhanced number plates issued by the government were fully implemented. Talking to Business Recorder then, the minister ruled out the use of old or the number plate manufactured in open market/shops. Sindh extends deadline for Ajrak number plates until August 14 Emphasising the use of Ajrak number plates, the minister described the features of the number plate adding that the plates included threads in the background, 3D holograms, and barcodes. The Safe City cameras would also be able to read the plate number in night, he added. Chawla stated that the excise department had launched three different colored number plates: white plates for private vehicles and bikes, yellow plates for commercial vehicles, and green plates for government vehicles. He mentioned that the fee for vehicle number plates—whether government or commercial—was set at Rs2,450, and Rs1,850 for two wheelers.
New Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Cheaper for Harimau Malaya to go to Singapore than Dushanbe?
KUALA LUMPUR: For years, Harimau Malaya lamented that no top teams want to play them because of their "low" standard. Now ironically, Malaysia withdrew from the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup after accepting a first ever invitation. And now, there is speculation that Malaysia may play Singapore instead during the September Fifa window. Malaysia still want to play their neighbours from across the Causeway — again, again and again? Singapore as replacement for higher ranked teams like Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran, who are going to the 2026 World Cup? Football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail finds this purported U-turn from Central Asia to Southeast Asia baffling. "They don't want to play in a good tournament. What's the strategy? There must be something that has led to this," said Jamal. It was reported that the national team will instead hold a training camp in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 1–9, while a friendly with Singapore was being considered. Jamal said the national team could be trying to save costs as going to Singapore instead of Dushanbe (for the Nations Cup) is cheaper. "Is it because of financial constraints? When going there (Nations Cup), you have to pay this and that, flights are expensive, but here (Singapore) is not that expensive. "They should come out with a press conference to explain and not just keep quiet," he added. Jamal also found it hard to accept the reasons for Malaysia's withdrawal — travel logistics, transit fatigue and the unavailability of overseas-based players. "These are not good excuses, and if there are transits, then go earlier and you can recover. Not a plausible excuse. "Even when they talk about overseas-based players who aren't available, do they think that only players like Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces and Rodrigo Holgado are good and the rest aren't? I think netizens will think the same way, too," said Jamal.
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Horror video shows boy, 7, being kidnapped at gunpoint as dad flees
Terrifying video footage from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shows the moment a car pulled out to a house and a boy was taken - the child's father appeared to run to safety Grim video shows the moment a seven-year-old boy was kidnapped at gunpoint and his father ran away to safety. Jamal White was riding his bike outside his home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the US. Suddenly, a white Jeep can be seen in the footage pulling up and blocking the driveway. Two people then jump out and grab little Jamal as his dad Jamal Sr runs inside the house. 'Hell yeah I ran,' Jamal Sr said, responding to criticism on social media. He added: 'I ran im thinking they tryna rob me not take my damn baby.' WISN reported that an amber alert to inform the public of a missing child was not issued until nearly five hours later. Thankfully, Jamal Jr was found around a day later at a house approximately seven miles from where he was taken. Three people have been arrested. Suspect Corey Williams, 25, was charged with party to the crime of kidnapping with intent to transfer property, taking hostages and contributing to the delinquency of a child. A 14-year-old boy and a 38-year-old man were also arrested in connection with the incident. Police are not seeking additional suspects. ABC reported that Williams said the original plan was to rob Jamal White Jr's mother. He claimed she is a known drug dealer. Williams drove his girlfriend's Jeep and the other two suspects allegedly brought guns. They did not see Jamal Jr's mother, so went to his father's house instead. After taking Jamal Jr, they drove away to Williams' house. The 38-year-old suspect called Jamal's mother to demand jewellery and a $100,000 (£74,000) ransom to be exchanged in a park nearby. Jamal Jr's uncle Jamel K White allegedly opened fire on two people during the hunt for the boy and was arrested. Documents seen by the The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Jamel White shot at them as a man and his son drove past during the search. He hit an abandoned house and a tree. The uncle blamed his actions on being scared for the safety of his family, according to the complaint. He faces two charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with a dangerous weapon. Jamel White appeared in court on Tuesday and he was ordered to have no possession of firearms or dangerous weapons and slapped with a $20,000 bond. "I'm glad he's OK, but it's kind of like, I feel like I still can't rest because who would do something like this to a 7-year-old?" little Jamal's aunt Simone White told WISN 12 News. She also thanked the community after it rallied to the cause following Jamal Jr being taken. The boy is now with Child Protective Services.
